FANTI

It’s impossible to be all things to all people but where is the demarcation line between ignoring the culture and doing things your own way? Folks like Tyler Perry, Oprah (no last name, you know the one!) and more recently Lena Waithe and Kenya Barris have come under fire for not representing the totality of Black culture. But did anyone ever ask them to? 

But before we get started…

DIS/Honorable Mentions 

This week, Tre’vell has an honorable mention to Dwyane and Zaya Wade who debuted matching fuschia hair this week—much to the delight of wife Gabby Union. 

An honorable mention also goes out to the always-delighful Tracee Ellis Ross of Black-ish fame who stars in her first leading movie role with The High Note. You can go here to join the Twitter watch part this Friday at 5PM PT / 8PM ET. 

Lastly, an honorable mention to Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela and Eureka O’Hara who star in the new HBO show We are Here. You can stream it now.  

Over on Team Side-Eye, Jarrett has a DIShonorable mention for Amy Cooper for weaponizing White Woman Tearz™ and calling the cops on a hot nerdy black bird watcher for having the audacity to request she follow the rules. We can’t even watch birds in peace!

And because White supremacy never takes a damn day off, Jarrett has a dishonorable mention for the Minneapolis Police Dept for their complete and utter failing in the death of George Floyd.

Finally, a mention goes out to Jack Dorsey and Twitter for debuting their fact-based warning labels with a certain Tangerine nightmare and his Paul Bunyunesque tweets.

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

We're celebrating our 15 episode milestone. (Yay, us!)

This week, Tre’vell and Jarrett turn their attention toward the audience for a special FANMail episode of FANTI.  We'll read and discuss some of your emails and tweets about the show so far. Fanti is not just a podcast about the complicated and complex relationships we share with pop culture. It's a show about holding each other accountable, even when it's difficult. That's why we decided to give you all the floor and address some of the good, the bad and the always constructive feedback we've been receiving. 

But before we get started…

DIS/Honorable Mentions 

This week, Jarrett has an honorable mention to Ms. Tracey Pickett, founder of Hairbrella. The company just sold its first million in revenue. 

An honorable mention also goes out to David Makes Man, the OWN show received a Peabody nomination. Congrats to the entire team!

Lastly, Jarrett would  like to give an honorable mention to Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin from the extremely binge-worthy series The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes. You can stream it now on Netflix.  

Tre'Vell has an honorable mention for all of the Obamas who still find impressive ways to sidestep the foolishness and keep it classy. 

An honorable mention is in order as well to IG's @BlackMoviePosters created by cultural creator Tre'vell themselves! That's right, Tre'vell gets an additional shout out.

Tre'vell has a side eye and dishonorable mention to the corporations who have put dollars over advocacy now that Pride Week has been canceled from Ms. Rona.

If you would like to support a LGBTQ organization you can start here.  

Episode Notes:

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

On Twitter: 

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish   (Producer Laura Swisher)

IG:

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

If you've been spending time on Twitter in the past two weeks chances are you've come across various tweets about America's Next Top Model creator and host Tyra Banks. Clips from past episodes of both her wildly popular reality competition and her, admittedly, pretty kooky daytime talk show have resurfaced and under the lense of a 2020 microscope… yikes.

But first we spill the tea and Pass the Popcorn while we talk about the mid-season finale of HBO's Insecure. Are you Team Issa or Team Molly?

DIS/Honorable Mentions 

This week, Jarrett starts things off with an honorable mention to Mindy Kaling for her new Netflix series Never Have I Ever. The show, created and loosely based on Kaling's life, is a sharp teen dramedy that centers on a first-generation Indian American teen. Well done! 

Jarrett would also like to give an honorable mention to Michael R. Jackson for his  Pulitzer Prize win, making him the first Black man to win this honor for musical theatre work. His off-Broadway queer musical A Strange Loop is outstanding. 

A dishonerabe mention to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel for having the audacity to poke his face out of his turtle shell and pop-off about President Barack Obama.

Tre'Vell would love for us to give singer and farmer Kelis her flowers ta-dae for her new Netflix show Cooked With Cannabis. It's more than just a show about all of the delicious concoctions you can create using weed and Kelis is as charming as ever on it. 

Also, shout out to the first-time authors and all those taking a chance on themselves as writers. We see you!

A special tip of the caftan to André Leon Talley for his new memoir The Chiffon Trenches. You can pre-order it here. 

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

Instagram:

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

Twitter:

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

This week, Tre’Vell and Jarrett examine how body image impacts us as a society and on a personal level.

What does it mean to be "fit?"  

We'll take a look back at the history of fatness throughout the ages and how it has changed over the years. 

We're joined by body-positive "fit-fluencers" Kevin Carnell and Jessica Jade Rihal who talk to us about  reclaiming the term "fat," what body positivity looks like in their personal lives and how body-shaming and fat erasure cause damage both inside and out.  

Episode Notes:

Click here to demand justice for Ahmaud Arbery who was senselessly gunned down this year and to support his family. 

DIS/Honorable Mentions 

This week, Jarrett starts things off with an honorable mention to friend of the show Donovan Ramsey - whose new book "When Crack is King," hits bookstores soon. He's also serving up an honorable mention to former MTV VJ Kurt Loder who turns 75 this week and to the one and only Tyra Banks who continues to give it to us every ball with her hilarious (and often problematic) vintage America's Next Top Model content that is currently making the rounds on Twitter.

Jarrett would also like to give an honorable mention to all of you who reached out this past week and to all of you who expressed you've been going through some things these past few weeks. We feel you. 

Tre'Vell would like to extend a peach and an honorable mention to the hardest working woman in reality television— Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Kandi Burruss. Check out Kandi and the other RHOA castmates this Sunday on Bravo for their first-ever virtual reunion episode. There's sure to be some digital wig-shifting and tons of shade thrown!

Also, shout out to the freelancers out there making it do what it do despite our current pandemic. We see you!

And lastly, shout out to all of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize winners this week, especially the ancestor Ida B. Wells for winning a posthumous honor.  

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

This week, we're talking all things RuPaul.

That's right. We're keeping the same energy for all of the icons. There's no denying the impact that RuPaul Andre Charles has had on the world of drag. He's carried drag into the mainstream in six-inch stilettos and challenged the status quo with every step. We Stan a living legend.

 Not to mention the fact that half of the internet is powered by RuPaul's Drag Race reaction gifs.

In this episode we'll seek to separate Mama Ru the icon from RuPaul Andre Charles the shrewd businessman whose choices on and off his hit VH1 show can be at times questionable. Is RuPaul transphobic? Is RuPaul a fracker?

We'll get into all of that and more on an all-new episode of FANTI!

DIS/Honorable Mentions

Jarrett starts things off with a dishonorable mention to allergy season with its rude ass.

Also, a DIS/Honorable mention to contestant Sarah Jett Rayburn on “Jeopardy!” after she failed to correctly respond to a clue about early 1800s warrior leader Shaka Zulu instead opting to answer with Chaka Khan.
 

And lastly, Jarrett would like to give an honorable mention to everyone out there who is having a difficult time during COVID-19. Whether you are sheltering at home or an essential worker, you are not alone and there are resources out there if you need assistance.

This week, Tre'vell side-eyes ESPN with a dishonorable mention for their tone-deaf infographic for NFL Draft pick Tee Higgins. Put some respek on Mom, Camilla's name. We're also dishonorably mentioning the current controversy surrounding Land o' Lakes butter. 

An honorable mention goes out to content creators with a shout-out to YouTubers Terrell Grice and Zachary Campbell for helping us momentarily escape...all this.

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

This week, we continue our "Proud to Be an American?" series. We're talking to Brian De Los Santos, digital strategist at the Desert Sun and the West Coast social lead for the USA Today Network, about his Latinx experience. We’re talking about the ways he engages pride, patriotism, and simply existing as Americans.

He talks to us about his experience as an undocumented American, the push and pull some Latinx Americans feel/face in terms of being viewed as "American" enough and the way his parent's generation experienced American patriotism differs from his own understanding of the country that he calls home.

Plus, we'll hear from other listeners within the Latinx community who tell us about their own unique experiences with American pride.

EPISODE NOTES

READ Brian De Los Santos’s piece in The Los Angeles Times: I was 9 when my parents told me I was undocumented. With DACA ending, I have no idea what's next

DIS/Honorable Mentions

Jarrett has an honorable mention for Ms. Tabitha Brown and her inspirational videos. Go to all her socials and watch a few videos. Watch all of them, if you want to. That ain't none of our business! Also, shout-out to J. August Richards. His new show Council of Dads features a black gay male couple raising children. The actor recently game out as gay.

Jarrett also has an honorable mention for the always cool Babyface and a "Make it make sense, Jesus!" to Teddy Riley for their Versuz performances this week on IG Live.

And lastly, Jarrett would like to give an honorable mention to everyone out there for their warm birthday wishes! 

This week, Tre'vell would like to give a hearty church clap to the series finale of Lee Daniels' Empire. The show, which debuted in 2015, just wrapped production. Also, an honorable mention to RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12 contestant Widow Von'Du who turnt it out in a lip sync for her life in front of none other than Chaka Khan!

A Dishonorable Mention goes out to the states opening up early. This includes Georgia, Texas and the Tre’vell’s home state of South Carolina. Stay safe, y'all.

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

Instagram:

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

Twitter:

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

Jen chats with us about maintaining her Asian identity in a country that often requires people of color to assimilate into whiteness in order to achieve success. Plus, we discuss the intersections within our own communities.

Later, we’ll be joined by Jia Lynn Yang, author of the upcoming book One Mighty and Irresistable Tide: The Epic Struggle Over Immigration who talks to us about Asian American immigration during the twentieth century, how American politics connects to her family and what it means to be Chinese American during the Covid-19 pandemic.

When Asian-Americans Have to Prove We Belong

DIS/Honorable Mentions 

Jarrett wants to shout out to friend to the show Mychael Chinn whose The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel ,which premiered last Saturday, saw the highest tv movie ratings for the Lifetime network in four years. Look at Gawd!

Jarrett would also like for you all to bring Aunjanue Ellis and Tiffany Boone their flowers while they can smell them for their outstanding performances in The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel  and the latest episode of Little Fires Everywhere, respectively. 

With all due damn disrespect, Jarrett would like to side eye the bureaucratic and structural racism baked into St Louis government and specifically their disproportionate response to African American communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, Tre'Vell needs you all to know that Queen Rihanna lives it how she gets it. She recently donated $2.1 million to domestic violence victims during the lockdown. (Still no album, though.)

They're also shouting out T Magazine's feature on Veteran Black Actors including Kimberly Elise and Mary J Blige.

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

Instagram

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

Twitter

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

Mychael Chinn's The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel premieres this Saturday on Lifetime.

Pass the Popcorn

Tiger King

Articles Referenced on the Show

Source: The Atlantic

CodeSwitch: Where Did That Fried Chicken Stereotype Come From?

DIS/Honorable Mentions 

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Twitter: @jaboukie

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Sam - In dishonor of Mr. Whoever Runs Twitter Sam would like to shout out comedian Jaboukie Young-White who was recently suspended from Twitter for tweeting as Presidential hopeful Joe Biden.

Jarrett - Shout out to Shar Jossell for the lofi hip hop vibes on ChilledCow recommendation.

Tre'Vell - The P's both Master and Tyler.

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

Insta

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

Twitter

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

Shape Up: Gay in the Black barbershop

The Confess Project

Lorenzo Lewis

The Black Man Project

Wyatt tries to get himself a spokesperson gig at Bevel

DIS/Honorable Mentions 

[include Yamiche pic]

Jarrett - Yamiche Alcindor

Wyatt - Coronavirus worker strikes at Amazon and elsewhere

Tre'Vell - In honor of Trans Visibility Day (March 31st), Tre'Vell gives a shout out to Every Image Is an Offering

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

Insta

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

Twitter

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@WyattCenac

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

Tough Question - Jarrett wants to hire a black or brown housekeeper, and has all kinds of feelings about it.

DIS/Honorable Mentions 

Rapper Chika: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Oprah won't let Stedman in her bed

DJ D-Nice's Club Quarantine Instagram Dance Party

Go ahead and @ us

Email: [email protected]

Instagram:

@FANTIpodcast

@Jarrett Hill

@rayzon (Tre’Vell)

Twitter

@FANTIpodcast

@TreVellAnderson

@JarrettHill

@Swish (Producer Laura Swisher)

FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

Laura Swisher is the senior producer.